Temperature control for electrolytic cells



P. H. BRACE TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS Filed Nov. 15, 1919 w w n ZZZ-2:.:12: v

WITNESSES; @MQZW INVENTOR Po/fer H. Brace ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

wires 51' PORTER H. BRACE, O'F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8c MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

v TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

Application filed November 13, 1919. Serial No. 337,688.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, PORTER H; BRACE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Temperature Controls for Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrolytic cells, and, more.particularly,'to cells for use in the electrolysis of fused salts, and it has, for its object, the provision of a convenient and efficient means for controlling the temperature of the electrolyte.

In the past, metals, such as those of the alkaline earth group, comprising calcium, strontium and barium, have been produced b electrolysis of their fused salts, such as clilorides, the operation being conducted in a graphite cup which functioned both as the container for the fused salt, constituting the electrolyte, and as an anode. Under such conditions, the metal, such as calcium, has been de osited on a cathode which has been vertically raised as the accumulation of metal thereon has increased. As a result, an irregular rod ofthe metal has been produced in which the diameter of the rod and the quality of the metal have varied greatly, according-to the varying conditions within the cell.

It has been found that the temperature of the electrolyte is a factor of great importance in determining the character of the deposit produced, and the general efliciency of the cell is greatly aflected by changes in the temperature of the electrolyte, occasioned, in part, by the conditions at the anode which continually change. These changes are caused, at least in part, by changes in the size and location of that area of the anode from which current is passing to the electrolyte.

It has been customary to compensate, as well as possible, for these changes in the temperature of the electrolyte by varying the current through the cell and the rate of movement of the cathode. These adustments, however, have not been effective,

and the products obtained have varied widely, even though operators of considerable experience and skill have been employed.

One of the objects of my present invent1on consists in providing means for controlling the energy communicated between the electrodes in such manner as to control, to a more effective degree, the temperature of the electrolyte.

In this connection, a still further object of my invention comprises a means for controlling the energy communicated through the bath by raising or lowering the anode, or anodes, if more than one are employed, to vary its immersed and, consequently, effective area.

A still further object of my invention consists in providin means for cooling the anode and in ren ering such means adjustable whereby different portions of the anode may be cooled.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the single figure of the drawing, which is a diagrammatic sectional view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In practicing my invention, I may employ any suitable container 1 for the fused salt or electrolyte 2 being treated, and this container may be water-cooled or not, as

preferred. A cathode 3 may be" supported.

in proper contact with the fused electrolyte by an arm 4 which may have insulated and threaded connection 5 with an adjusting screw 6 in such manner that, by turning the screw, the cathode may be raised as calcium or other metal is deposited upon it.

(lo-operating with the cathode 3 is an anode 7 which may be supported by an arm '8 having an insulated and threaded connection 9 with an adjusting screw 10, whereby the anode may be raised or lowered at will. The anode is tubular in construction, bein closed at its lower end, and, operating within the anode is a closely fitting plunger 11 having a tubular stem 12 supported by an arm 13. The stem may terminate, at

its upper end, in a chamber 1 1. The supporting arm 13 may have an insulated and threaded connection 15 with an adjusting screw 16 which may be formed, at its lower end, with a reversely threaded, portion having an insulated connection 17 with the arm 8. A tube or pipe 18, which may be connected with any suitable source of cooling-fluid supply, communicates with the chamber 14, and a discharge pipe or tube 19 leads from the plunger 11 through the stem 12 and through the upper portion of the chamber 14:.

Inasmuch as the adjusting screw 16 has reverse-threaded, connections with the supporting arms 8 and 13, it will be clear that turning of this adjusting screw will cause a relatively rapid raising or lowering of the plunger 11 within the anode. further be clear that turning of the adjusting screw 10 will act to raise or lower the anode without any change in the relative positions of the anode and the cooling plunger, since the supporting arm 8 of the anode also forms, through the adjusting screw 16, a support for the arm 13 of the plunger.

In practicing my invention, any desired salt, such as calcium chloride, may be placed in the container 1 and may be brought to a state of fusion in the usual or any preferred manner. The cathode and the anode, or anodes, if more than one are employed, are properly adjusted relative to each other and to the surface of the fused electrolyte and current is passed from the anode to the cathode in the usual manner.

Small changes in the temperature of the electrolyte may be offset by varying the position of the fluid-cooled plunger 11 within the tubular anode, as will be readily appreciated. Also, such changes, or more pronounced changes, may be neutralized by controlling the electrical energy communicated to the electrolyte by raising and lowering the anode to change its immersed area. For example, if the temperature of the electrolyte becomes too low, the anode may be raised to decrease its surface contact with the electrolyte and to consequently increase the voltage drop between the anode and cathode and so produce an immediate rise in the temperature of the electrolyte. Of course, if the temperature of the electrolyte becomes too high, the anode may be correspondingly lowered, and, in either case, the desired temperature of the elec trolyte may be further attained by suitable adjustment of the fluid-cooled plunger within the anode.

"As it will be clear that my fluid-cooled,

It will purposes, my invention is not to be restricted to the specific details illustrated and described. This is particularly true as regards the means for adjustably moving both the anode and the cooling attachment there- 7 for, and, consequently, no limitations are to be imposed upon my invention other than those indicated in the claims.

. I claim as my invention 1. The combination with an electrolytic 7 cell including an electrolytic bath and electrodes, of means for varying the immersed area of an electrode to control the temperature of the-bath.

2. The combination with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath and electrodes, of means for controlling the temperature of the bath, said means comprising means for cooling a predetermined portion of an electrode.

3. The combination with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath and electrodes, of means for controlling the temperature of the bath, said means comprising means for adjustably cooling an elec- 9o trode at points variably spaced from the source of heat.

4. The combination with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath and electrodes, of means for varying the immersed area of an electrode and means for conducting a cooling agent into said electrode.

5. The combination with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath and electrodes, of means for varying the immersion of an electrode and means for conducting a cooling agent into the electrode at various points throughout its length.

6. The combination with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath, a cathode and an anode, of means for moving the cathode vertically with respect to the bath, means for varying the immersion of the anode, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through the anode.

7. The combination. with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath, a cathode and an anode, of means for moving the cathode vertically with respect to the bath, means for varying the immersion of the anode and means for circulating a cooling fluid through the anode,'the means for varying the immersion of the anode and the means for cooling it, being independently controlled.

8. The combination with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath and a vertically movable cathode, of an anode, means for adjusting the anode vertically to vary its immersed area, means movable with the adjusting means for cooling a predetermined portion of the anode, and means for varying the portion of the anode being cooled.

9. An electrode for use in electrolytic cells provided with an axial chamber, and

means operating in the chamber for cooling the electrode at various points throughout its length.

10. An electrode for use in electrolytic cells and havin an axial chamber, a plunger mounted or adjustable longitudinal movement in the chamber, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through the plunger.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of Oct.,

PoRTER H. BRACE. 

